Abstract

Background

Recently, hepcidin expression in adipose tissue has been described and shown to be
increased in patients with severe obesity. We tried to assess the effect of obesity
on hepcidin serum levels and treatment outcome of iron deficiency anemia in children.

Methods

This was a case control study included 70 children with iron deficiency anemia "IDA"
(35 obese and 35 non-obese) and 30 healthy non-obese children with comparable age
and sex(control group). Parameters of iron status (Serum iron, ferritin, transferrin,
total iron binding capacity and transferrin saturation) and serum hepcidin levels
were assessed initially and after 3 months of oral iron therapy for IDA.

Results

Compared to the control group, serum hepcidin was significantly lower in non-obese
children with IDA(p < 0.01) and significantly higher in obese children with IDA (p
< 0.01). Hepcidin increased significantly in non-obese children with IDA after 3 months
of iron therapy (P < 0.01). On the other hand, obese children showed non-significant
change in hepcidin level after iron therapy (p > 0.05). Although hepcidin showed significant
positive correlations with Hb, serum iron and transferrin saturation in non-obese
children with IDA, it showed significant negative correlations with Hb, serum iron
and transferrin saturation in obese children with IDA (P < 0.05).